Republican Party – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Under the Lights: Art and Politics in San Antonio

While a current LEAP Ambassador enjoyed six days in Austin as part of the New Leadership Texas program, two recent graduates were spending days in San Antonio as elected delegates to the State Republican Convention.

For those who have never been to a state convention, it’s an experience. While many delegates meet on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to attend committee meetings, most of the rank-and-file delegates show up on Thursday to participate in votes, listen to speeches by the state’s leading public figures, and to enjoy special events hosted by the party and its leaders.

For Karla Rosales and Christina Perez, it was an opportunity to move into leadership positions. Karla, who was making her second appearance as a delegate, was appointed delegate counter for Walker County, at least for the first day. For Christina, a first-time delegate, it was a chance to make new connections, learn about the process, and do some work for her new boss, Congressman Kevin Brady, at his Saturday “Kolaches with Kevin” event.

The official business began on Thursday, June 14, when delegates met in General Session for a “get-acquainted session,” but also to hear speeches from the two candidates for State Party Chair: (1) the incumbent James Dickey and (2) challenger Cindy Asche. Both spoke in the general session, asking for votes and laying out a vision.

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When the general session convened, delegates headed to rooms sorted by Senatorial District. Walker County delegates headed to Senate District 5–a district more or less controlled by the populous Williamson County–where business was tended to.

The business included electing permanent officers for our senate district meetings; and electing members to the credentials, rules, platform, legislative priorities, and state nominations committees. When these positions were contested, they involved taking votes, and Karla had a chance to perform her duties as “vote counter.”

Texas GOP, Texas Republican Convention 2018, Senate District 5, Karla Rosales

During this process, the Senate District voted in Walker County’s own Madeline Loosier as a member of the Legislative Priorities committee.

Texas GOP, Texas Republican Convention 2018, Senate District 5, Madeline Loosier

This “get-acquainted” day ended early, leaving delegates the opportunity to attend various social events or to do their own thing. For Karla and Christina, this involved heading to the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, where much fun was had.

One of the key exhibits was “Immersed,” which included four artists–including Andy Warhol’s film “Sunset”–whose work involved immersing yourself in the experience of art. The first of these, “Pleasure Principle,” by Chris Sauter, was quite an experience, with odd lights shining through holes in a “home” that was unusually decorated.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Chris Seuter

Perhaps the most fun of the installations was Phillip Worthington’s “Shadow Monsters,” which allowed visitors to be part of the art. Visitors stood in front of a light, which transmogrified the visitor’s appearance, while also allowing them the opportunity to access numerous props, which were similar transmogrified by the screen.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Phillip Worthington

Also intriguing was Yayoi Kusama’s…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Yayoi Kusama

… “Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity,” a hall of mirrors type installation, which also included lighting effects.

This was another of our favorites, and was doubly interesting because we had seen a similar work by this artist at the Phoenix Art Museum.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Phoenix Art Museum, Yayoi Kusama

Our least favorite was “Sunset,” by Andy Warhol, which was a 33-minute abstract-like film of a sunset.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum

In the midst of these installations were fun interactive “art” games that we quickly jumped into, while also branding LEAP at the McNay.

The McNay isn’t as large as the major museums in Dallas or Houston, but it has a very nice collection, with a smattering of works across diverse times and regions. There were 19th century European masters such as Van Gogh…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Van Gogh

…Monet…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Monet

…Cezanne…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Cezanne

Plus, much modern and contemporary art, such as Picasso…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Picasso

…Pollock (far left, below)…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum,

…OKeeffe (center, above; and below)…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, O'Keeffe

…Alexander Calder…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Alexander Calder

…Louise Nevelson…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Louise Nevelson

…Sally Skoglund…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Sally Skoglund

…Donald Judd…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Donald Judd

…Robert Indiana…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Robert Indiana

…and SHSU alum Danville Chadburne.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Danville Chadburne

Their sculpture garden is smallish, but has a very nice collection of artists such as Lois Jimenez…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Luis Jimenez

…the aforementioned Robert Indiana…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Robert Indiana

…and Joel Shapiro….

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Joel Shapiro

It was a fun start to the convention and site-seeing, and a nice way to mix art and politics.

March Primary and Propositions: What to Know

While most people know the candidates at the top of Tuesday’s ballot, less information is known about the propositions on the ballot. The Republicans have four propositions; the Democrats six.

Here are the Republican Propositions:

Proposition 1:

Texas should replace the property tax system with an alternative other than an income tax and require voter approval to increase the overall tax burden.

Proposition 2:

Texas cities and counties should be required to comply with federal immigration laws or be penalized by loss of state funds.

Proposition 3:

Texas should prohibit governmental entities from collecting dues for labor unions through deductions from public employee paychecks.

Proposition 4:

Texas and its citizens should strongly assert 10th Amendment Rights guaranteed by the US Constitution which states “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”.

Here are the Democratic Propositions:

Referendum 1:

Should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress pass an economic security and prosperity plan for families that includes higher incomes by raising the state minimum wage to a livable wage, passing the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure equal pay for equal work, guaranteeing paid family leave to care for a child or ill loved one, fully funding public neighborhood schools, and making a debt-free community college education a reality for hardworking students?

Referendum 2:

Should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress pass criminal justice reform legislation that ensures equal justice throughout our society without respect to race, socioeconomic status, geographic location, or other factors unrelated to behavior, ensuring as well common sense policies to protect the rights of law enforcement officers, the community, and defendants in the criminal justice system?

Referendum 3:

Should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress encourage the transition to renewable, non-polluting energy as a means to slow down climate change and its impact on the planet?

Referendum 4:

Should the United States Congress pass the new Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect all American voters?

Referendum 5:

Should the Texas Legislature allow each public institution of higher education (not only private universities) to opt out of the ability to carry guns on campus?

Referendum 6:

Should the United States Congress pass a just and fair comprehensive immigration reform solution that includes an earned path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants and their children, keeps families together, protects DREAMers, and provides workforce solutions for businesses?

LEAP Director Mike Yawn discusses the propositions on the ballot with KSTAR’s Beth O’Brien.

The interview also discusses how these propositions get on the ballot. This is a little-known process that involves the executive committees of both Texas parties, involving the 31 Senate Districts in the state. Learn about this process here.

Reagan Dinner: Version 2.016

Following a busy day of classes and entertaining guests, we looked forward to a similarly busy evening of entertaining guests and ourselves at the Reagan Dinner. LEAP Ambassadors arrived early to help greet guests as they arrived and escort them to their seats. Because we had a large slate of volunteers, we also had the chance to socialize with each other, something that happens less than you might expect.During the reception, hosted by the Walker County Republican Women, we had the opportunity to spend more time with the guest of honor, Ambassador Chase Untermeyer, and with many community members. Among the guests were County Judge Pierce, Judge Sorenson, Congressman Brady, County Chair Linda McKenzie, WCRW President Terry Stivers, and numerous others who are currently running for local office.

It was at this time that many LEAP Ambassadors took the opportunity to have Ambassador Untermeyer sign our books. He gladly agreed and discussed his book eagerly with us. How Important People Act: Behaving Yourself in Public gave us many pointers on how to act when we are in the spotlight, no matter how big or small. Ambassador Untermeyer speaks from years of experience from multiple levels of government. Ambassador Untermeyer worked under multiple Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan, making him a perfect speaker for the Reagan Dinner.

In that book, he notes that your actions should be appropriate for the occasion. He noted, for example, that a President should not take a selfie at a funeral. At a festive occasion such as this dinner, however, there are no such prohibitions:

Once the invocation and the pledge of allegiance was given, dinner began. Students were fortunate enough to sit with a variety of respected individuals such as: Ambassador Untermeyer; State Representative Candidate Wesley Hinch; Tenth Court of appeals Chief Justice Tom Gray; Field Representative for Dr. Schwertner, Hayden Paul; John McManners; and Mac and Leanne Woodward.

U.S. Representative Congressman Brady spoke for a few moments about his new position as the Ways and Means Committee Chairman and his plans with committee. He also thanked the LEAP Center for their work in Walker County! It was a real honor for the Ambassadors to be recognized by our U.S. State Representative.

Next, Professor Yawn introduced Ambassador Untermeyer for the keynote address of the evening. Ambassador Untermeyer outlined the qualities President Reagan utilized in the White House to be a successful leader of a divided house.

First, his optimism allowed him to focus on much more of the positives rather than the negatives. He also used courage and compromise to get bills passed in Congress. According to Ambassador Untermeyer, President Reagan was not afraid to reach across the aisle in order to promote cooperation between parties. He encouraged our current elected officials to do the same. The final quality Ambassador Untermeyer discussed was President Reagan’s sense of humor at the proper time. His ability to be lighthearted is vastly different from the politics of today. Following Untermeyer’s speech, one of the Ambassadors noted, “I wish all candidates shared those views.” It was a sentiment we all shared.

Ambassador Untermeyer observed all of these qualities while working as Reagan’s appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Ambassador Untermeyer’s years of experience provided the audience much insight into who President Reagan was. With President Reagan’s birthday approaching, The Reagan Dinner was a wonderful way to commemorate President Reagan’s legacy.

Concluding the evening, LEAP Ambassadors utilized the opportunity to take pictures with some of our favorite community members and elected officials.

Thank you to the Republican Party of Walker County for hosting a wonderful evening and for allowing the LEAP Ambassadors the opportunity to participate in the evening. We enjoyed ourselves immensely.

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Also, thank you to Ambassador Untermeyer for spending the day in Huntsville and speaking at the Reagan Dinner!

Christmas Giving

As the semester concluded, what better way to celebrate than volunteering for the Walker County Republican Women’s Christmas Party! Hosted at Dr. and Mrs. Deahl’s home, the party provided the opportunity for (Republican) members of LEAP to socialize and reminisce about the year while enjoying an array of tasty treats. LEAP ambassadors served as greeters as the guests arrived, served punch, and replenished food throughout the night.

To add to the atmosphere, a jazz band played throughout the evening adding soft background music.

For the ambassadors who attended, it was wonderful to mingle with many elected officials and familiar faces throughout the evening. The main event occurred when the new officers for the Republican Women were sworn in for the upcoming year by County Court At Law Judge Tracy Sorenson: President- Ms. Terry Stivers, Vice President – Ms. Sally Kelly, Secretary- Ms. Carol Hayes, PAC Treasurer- Ms. Mert Gribble. As the party resumed, we took the opportunity for a few photos with the stunning Christmas tree.

Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Deahl for hosting the Christmas Party and to Ms. Stivers for inviting the LEAP Ambassadors to volunteer. We are thankful for the many opportunities to participate in Republican Women’s events throughout the year. Congratulations to the new officers for 2016 and Merry Christmas from the LEAP Ambassadors!

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